Tobacco Industry

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many meetings he, his predecessor, his Ministers and his Department's officials have had with representatives of the tobacco industry since 1 January 1989; and if he will list the dates, venues and purpose of each meeting.

I met representatives from the Tobacco Advisory Council on 12 December 1990 at their request to
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discuss a range of issues relating to tobacco sponsorship of sport. Department officials meet representatives from the tobacco industry at meetings of the committee for monitoring agreements on tobacco advertising and sponsorship—COMATAS.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has on the current annual total sponsorship of sports by tobacco companies; if he will list these individually; and if he will make a statement.

The latest available information, provided by the Tobacco Advisory Council, on the total sponsorship of sports in the United Kingdom by British tobacco companies is £5.329 million for the year ending 31 March 1989. A breakdown of this figure is not available. This sum compares with £7.699 million in 1986–87.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will invite representatives of the health professions to participate in his Department's current negotiations with the tobacco industry on the control of tobacco sponsorship; and if he will make a statement;

(2) if he will report on the progress of his Department's negotiations to date with the tobacco companies on the control of tobacco sponsorship of sporting events; and if he will make a statement.